Palestinians rally in Gaza in support of jailed hunger-striker Khader Adnan

by Jeffrey Bright

February 18, 2012 /Photography News/ Palestinians rallied in Gaza in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 62nd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel. Gaza City 17-02-2012

Palestinian on hunger strike in Gaza in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 62nd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel. 17 February 2012 - 2:18pm Palestinian Territory, Gaza

Adnan, 33, has been refusing to eat since mid-December following his arrest in the occupied West Bank. He is being held under so-called “administrative detention”, which means Israel can detain him indefinitely without trial or charge.

Palestinians rallied in Gaza in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 62nd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel. 17 February 2012 - 2:21pm Palestinian Territory, Gaza

The Islamic Jihad group, which advocates the destruction of the state of Israel, has said it will escalate violence if Adnan dies, following reports that his health was deteriorating. "We are all Khader Adnan," chanted crowds gathered in the Gaza Strip, with activists from the main political parties joining forces in a rare display of Palestinian unity.

Palestinians rallied in Gaza in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 62nd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel. 17 February 2012 - 2:08pm Palestinian Territory, Gaza

Mr Adnan's lawyers have submitted a petition for his release to Israel's Supreme Court, but no date has been set for a hearing. The situation was urgent, lawyer Mahmoud Kassandra said. Palestinian officials said many other prisoners in Israeli jails had started hunger strikes to support Adnan, including Hassan Salama, a senior armed commander of Hamas who is serving life terms for masterminding suicide bombings against Israelis.

Palestinians rallied in Gaza in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 62nd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel.17 February 2012 - 2:13pm Palestinian Territory, Gaza

The PHR rights group said Adnan could die even if he broke his fast. "There is a risk to his health even if he starts eating now because his system has got used to not having any food at all," a spokesman said.

Palestinians rallied in Gaza in support of jailed Islamic Jihad leader Khader Adnan, who is on the 62nd day of a hunger strike to protest against his detention by Israel.17 February 2012 - 2:03pm Palestinian Territory, Gaza

Photos & text:Jeffrey Bright. All Rights Reserved

About Jeffrey Bright:

Jeffrey received a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Photography, 2007 Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design & Technology, Co. Dublin, Ireland. He is currently working as a freelance photographer whose main interest is to document social and political issues around the world, particularly within Latin America.

It is a sorrow of matter that Adnan, 33, has been refusing to eat since mid-December following his arrest in the occupied West Bank. He is being held under so-called "administrative detention," which means Israel can detain him indefinitely without trial or charge.